Epilepsia
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Comparative Study
Obstructive sleep apnea in a clinical series of adult epilepsy patients: frequency and features of the comorbidity.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate and features of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adult epilepsy patients. ⋯ Systematic investigation reveals that OSA is frequent in epilepsy patients. The major risk factors for OSA in our epilepsy patients were the same as those typically found in the general population. Of the epilepsy-related factors, older age at onset of seizures appears to be significantly related to comorbidity with OSA (p < 0.05). The presence in epilepsy patients of these features should alert the clinician to the possibility of an underlying OSA.
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Comparative Study
Anticonvulsant effect of flutamide on seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole: involvement of benzodiazepine receptors.
There is some structural similarity between the androgen receptor antagonist, flutamide (Flut) and benzodiazepines (BZDs). We evaluated the possible anticonvulsant effect and interaction of Flut with BZD receptors in common seizure models. ⋯ Flut both blocks PTZ-induced clonic seizures and elevates the threshold of PTZ or bicuculline-induced clonic seizures, through interaction with BZD receptors.
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To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous valproate (VPA) loading in children with status epilepticus (SE) or acute repetitive seizures. ⋯ Intravenous VPA loading is safe and effective for treating acute seizure emergencies in children.
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Apnea is known to occur during seizures, but systematic studies of ictal respiratory changes in adults are few. Data regarding respiratory pattern defects during interictal periods also are scarce. Here we sought to generate information with regard to the interictal period in animals with pilocarpine-induced epilepsy. ⋯ The data indicate that pilocarpine-treated animals have an altered ability to react to (or compensate for) blood gas changes with changes in ventilation and suggest that it is centrally determined. We speculate on the possible relation of the current findings on treating different epilepsy-associated conditions.
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Comparative Study
Mortality in a population-based cohort of epilepsy surgery patients.
To investigate mortality and especially the incidence of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in a population-based cohort of epilepsy surgery patients. ⋯ In this large and strictly population-based cohort, SMR for all causes and SUDEP incidence among surgery patients were similar to those of other studies. No differences in overall mortality emerged by seizure outcome, but none of the SUDEP cases was seizure free at the time of death. Four of five deaths in the nonsurgery group occurred during the surgery evaluation period. Mortality appeared to be lower for surgery than for nonsurgery patients, and the interpretation of this finding is discussed.